A provisional deal on the updated eight product safety directives, such as lifts, explosives for civil use and electrical equipments, was reached by Internal Market MEPs and Council negotiators on Wednesday evening. This deal means clearer labels for consumers, less red tape for companies and better market surveillance.

MEPs quizzed Croatian Commissioner-designate Neven Mimica on EU consumer policy and his plans for the next 16 months, at a hearing on Tuesday. They focused on barriers to e-commerce, product safety and market surveillance, medical devices and consumer policy in times of crisis.

Tuesday 4 June 2013, 9.30 - 12.30, European Parliament, Room: József Antall (4Q2)

A provisional deal on updated watercraft rules to make them safer and greener was struck by MEPs and Irish EU presidency negotiators on Wednesday. It also scraps the misleading names of boat design categories in order to give consumers clearer information.

A provisional deal updating the EU customs code to keep pace with IT development was struck by MEPs and Irish EU presidency negotiators on Tuesday. It paves the way for paper-free customs transactions, including fast-track processing for trusted companies.

Here is a summary of the priorities of Ireland's Presidency of the EU Council of Ministers, as presented by Irish ministers to European Parliament committees. These presentations were all made in the week of 21-25 January, except for agriculture (31 January).

A deal with the Council to give customs officials at EU borders better tools to confiscate, store and destoy goods that infringe intellectual property rights was endorsed by Internal Market Committee MEPs on Thursday.

Public authorities choosing among bids to supply them with water, energy, postal or transport services must be free to take account of environmental or social needs, and not just the cost, said Internal Market MEPs voting on an update of EU public procurement rules on Thursday.

Public procurement "concession" contracts, which enable public authorities to transfer the economic risk of projects such as building roads bridges or sports arenas to the private sector, will be subject to uniform EU-wide rules voted by the Internal Market Committee on Thursday.

Professionals will find it easier to work in another EU country thanks to an electronic card detailing their qualifications and experience, said the Internal Market Committee on Wednesday, amending a new draft law on recognition of professional qualifications. MEPs also backed plans for an EU- wide alert system to prevent doctors or nurses who are barred from their profession in one EU country from exercising it in another.